FEBRUARY CONSTRUCTION PACTS IN UTAH TUMBLE 42 PERCENT FROM '88

The number of contracts reported in February for future construction in Utah declined 42 percent from the same month a year ago, according to the F.W. Dodge Group of McGraw-Hill Information Services Co.

The report said the contracts reported in February totaled $64.7 million, a major decline from the $111.5 million in the same month a year ago.Non-residential contracts declined 27 percent to $32.5 million from $44.6 million; residential contracts declined 13 percent to $24.7 million from $28.6 million; and non-building contracts declined 81 percent to $7.4 million from $38.3 million.

In the first two months of the year, the report said the total worth of all construction contracts declined 39 percent to $119 million from $195.1 million.

Non-residential contracts in the two-month period declined 45 percent; residential contracts declined 13 percent to $52 million from $59 million; and non-building contracts declined 63 percent to $15.4 million from $41.8 million.